Please remember to discuss the assignments as a group and to give evidence of the discussion in your blog post.
Here is your assignment for this week: answer this question as a group and the 3rd person in each group will post the answer on the blog. Can a DC give out gift cards to patients who refer new patients to the clinic? Why or why not? 1point.
This assignment is due 10-3-11.
Group 24 discussed via email:
ReplyDeleteWe believe as a group that you can give gift cards as rewards for referring new patients. Some offices do drawings, or another perk for talking to family and friends about the office. Obviously the gift card would have to be of a small amount so you don't shell out too much money. A good idea we thought of would be to partner with a local coffee shop or bakery to refer back and forth.
Group 18 discussed through email:
ReplyDeleteWe think it depends on the state you are in with what you can do for promotions like gift cards. It may also depend on how you word the promotion and how you distribute the gifts. Bottom line is be careful and always operate far away from suspicion. Don't try to "get away" with something. It just wont be worth it if it caused you a legal or licensing problem.
6.3
ReplyDeleteOur group feels that giving out gift cards can be kind of "risky business", no matter how small the amount is. While we realize that this may be legal, depending on the state, it feels too much like a bribe to get patients into the office. We feel that by giving out gifts such as this, we are taking away from the value of our profession as Doctors of Chiropractic. Our goal would be to educate patients on the benefits of Chiropractic care and get people caring more about their overall health. If we do that correctly, we believe referrals will come with time. On another note, if we are trying to promote health and wellness, but giving away giftcards to fast food restaurants (for example), then we would be sending mixed signals to the patients!
Group 12
ReplyDeleteOur group discussed this question via email.
We came to the conclusion that gift cards can be questionable but under certain circumstances can be ok. We would never give a gift card for services in the office as this would be illegal, however Medicare allows a gift to be given as long as it does not exceed $20.00 within a calendar year. One idea would be to place names of those referring new patients into a drawing for a small value gift card at a set interval ie three months. By making it a drawing it is random and cannot be construed as any sort of a bribe or favoritism.
We discussed this question via email.
ReplyDeleteWe decided that giving gift cards would be okay, but that caution should be used when doing so. We feel that this would be both a good promotional tool and it would be beneficial in showing appreciation to the patient. The gift cards would have to be from outside sources. We decided that we would pick health food stores or other local businesses to purchase the cards from. This would promote good health and we would be keeping the money within the community. Also, we would make sure all the gift cards were from the same location, so that patients don't think that someone else is getting a better deal. The amount of the gift cards would not exceed $20. In addition, we thought about putting all the names of patients who have referred someone into a drawing each month, and then just giving out one gift card per month.
Group 26.
ReplyDeleteWe got together and discussed this topic sat night. We believe that it may ok for the doctor to give out gift cards for referred new patients but it can breaks Medicare law and may illegal if to much money in gifts is given to a patient over a month/year. It is wisest for the doctor to just give plain thank you cards for referrals. It can get into a gray area with not giving gifts to Medicare patients and given gifts to nonmedicare patients because that shows patient discrimination. A different possibility for a referral thank you may be a $5 off maximum coupon for a certain product sold in the office (only 1 coupon valid per patient per year).That way it can still be given to a medicare patient without breaking the law. Over all it is important to remember that these gifts need to be given as a "thank you for your referral" and not as a bribe.
Our group discussed this question via text messages.
ReplyDeleteWe decided that while gift cards can be ok to use in most states, it could cheapen how the patients see our care. We believe that the best doctors let their care speak for itself, and the average patient would probably see it this way as well. To use such tactics to bring in patients would show some air of desperation, which many would see as a sign that our care isn't enough to get patients in with its inherent power. How many other health professionals do you see essentially buying referrals? It's not too common, and there is a reason for that.
Group 9 discussed this topic via email.
ReplyDeleteWe determined that while it is not illegal to reward patients with gift cards for referrals, it is a very slippery slope. Referrals are a sign from the patient that they are happy and satisfied with the care you provide. We feel it is a better alternative to give a gift card for a small amount ($20) than the practice of giving a free adjustment to existing patients. The gift card could be toward a product benefiting the patient's wellness such as supplements, massage, contour pillow, etc. as long as the companies are outside sources and not within our practice (or giving any benefits to our practice). The gift cards could be awarded after a certain number of referrals (i.e. 3). The problem with this is, while it could be a rewarding marketing tactic, that existing patients may take advantage and try to play the system by bringing in individuals for only one appointment.
Whether gift cards are given or not, patients will refer if they are satisfied with their care. Showing your gratitude can be as sufficient as a "thank you" and explaining how you are happy that they are pleased with the care you provide.
Group 4 discussed this blog and came up with the following: When giving any kind of gift or discount you have to be careful how it will be percieved by others. The denomination/value would have to be kept small and everyone would have to have equal opportunity to earn said item; therefore, in order to keep it fair you'd have to spend time/money advertising that you offered this prize/discount for referrals and ensure that the "prize" could not be misconstrued as a romantic gift or bribe. Some states even have strict laws about monetary or other gifts provided to patients. For example, in one state you can not give prizes, gifts, gift cards, or thank yous of more than $10 per time and no more than $50 per year. It is important to know your state law on this topic. With all this in mind, we feel that it would be better to offer a small discount off next visit or a gift related to the office like a Tshirt or mug.
ReplyDeletePerson 4.4 did not have any ethical objections to using gift cards as long as it was within the legal amount owed and states that from his experience there are somethings that patients really enjoy.
Group 8
ReplyDeleteWe had a discusion over dinner and the answer is yes however, the amount cannot exceed $20 for a fiscal year. However, the group decided that this would probably be a poor idea because we felt that this would discount our service. I simple thank you card for the referral would be sufficient.
GROUP 15 meet and discussed this topic together at school last week and decided that giving gift cards would be okay. We felt that they would be a great tool for promotion not only for our practice but also for other wellness orientated markets/providers as well. We also agreed that the amount on the gift card should be small <$20 and should be the same for everyone.
ReplyDeleteGroup 11 discussed this topic together and we decided that it is okay to give out gift cards to patients. We feel it is up to the discretion of the doctors of the clinic and how they want to be perceived by their patients and the community. It also depends on the relationship the doctor has with the specific patient they would be giving the gift card too. However, we believe this appears as bribery. We feel that this may appear as alluring patients and it may be best to avoid offering incentives.
ReplyDeleteGroup3: We discussed this topic after class. We found out that it is ok to give out "gifts" as long as they do not exceed $20 per fiscal year accourding to Medicare standards. However, we feel it is not okay to do so because it makes your services seem less valuable or nogotiable. It takes away from the professionalism of the practice.
ReplyDeleteT Spencer saide
ReplyDeleteGroup 1 discussed the topic of gift cards as a promotion to patients. This would not be a good idea because with the laws governing medicare/medicaid this would be illegal. However, giving away incentive gives (mugs, t-shirts etc) or coupons off merchandise to the person who brings in the most new patients in a given period... would be okay. Keeping the amount under $20.00 and not exceeding that amount for any one person in a one year period.
As a group we agreed that yes, it is OK to give out gift cards in your practice. However, by doing so, you may give the patient a false sense that these types of promotions are offered all the time. Legally the total may not exceed $50 in the lifetime of the patient. Therefore if your practice chooses to do this type of promotion, it would be beneficial to give them out in small increments.
ReplyDelete